Running Back Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 16: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Kenneth Gainwell, Blake Corum, Michael Carter

Congratulations to all of you who successfully maneuvered your teams through the various obstacles that have emerged since Week 1. This includes the unwanted presence of injuries, impactful bye weeks, and an avalanche of unexpected developments that required you to navigate through each challenge.

You have advanced beyond those hurdles as you plan for the second week of fantasy postseason matchups. You also have the opportunity to sustain the same level of diligence that fueled your progression into Week 16 by focusing your efforts on constructing rosters that will advance into Week 17.

Another wave of injuries erupted during the matchups of Week 15, and this week’s waiver wire can be a valuable resource in your efforts to progress through the playoffs. This article will help you locate running backs who are capable of infusing additional scoring into your lineups. Other recommendations will focus on critical handcuffs that protect you from a roster crisis if your current starters are forced to the sideline. After you've finished this breakdown, you can also find fantasy football waiver wire pickups at other positions. Good luck with your matchups in Week 16!

The favorable trajectory of Corum’s workload since Week 7 has solidified the rationale for utilizing him as a starter. It has also sustained his status as a critical handcuff for anyone with Kyren Williams on their roster.

Corum has also secured a 36.1% snap share since Week 10, while averaging 9.7 attempts/61.7 rushing yards per game. He is also fifth among all backs with 280 yards (93.3 per game) since Week 13. Corum has also accrued 17 carries inside the red zone since Week 7, along with 10 attempts inside the 10-yard line.

Blake Corum! Rams making a statement 😤

DETvsLAR on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/13sO5EjLgQ

— NFL (@NFL) December 14, 2025

That includes Corum’s numbers when the Rams hosted Detroit in Week 15. Corum secured a 46% snap share, carried 11 times, and generated 71 rushing yards. He also finished eighth among all backs in efficiency (2.97) according to Next Gen Stats, and generated his fourth touchdown since Week 13.

Corum’s unquestioned role as the Rams’ RB2 also leaves him primed to seize a sizable workload if Williams is forced to the sideline when Los Angeles faces Seattle and Atlanta in Weeks 16-17. Corum is capable of delivering RB1 production if he ascends into a lead-back role, which launches him atop this week's Tier 1 recommendations.

Jawhar Jordan, Houston Texans - 0 % Rostered

Jordan had not registered a snap at the NFL level entering Week 15. However, he has now emerged as a potential starting option during Week 16 matchups if Woody Marks (ankle) and Nick Chubb (ribs) are unable to operate in Houston‘s backfield rotation.

Jordan accumulated 1,943 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns with his 323 attempts during his final two collegiate seasons and was later selected in Round 6 of the 2024 NFL draft (205th overall) by Houston.

Jordan had not been integrated into the Texans’ offense before Week 15, but he maximized his opportunity when Houston hosted Arizona.

Jordan secured a 44% snap share, carried 15 times, and eclipsed 100 rushing yards (101), while averaging 6.7 yards per attempt. Jordan also finished third overall in rush yards over expected (46) according to Next Gen Stats.

The status of Marks and Chubb should be monitored as the week progresses. However, Jordan is an intriguing roster addition in advance of a favorable matchup with Las Vegas in Week 16. He will become an RB3/flex option if Marks and Chubb fail to recover from their collective injuries.

RJ Harvey’s involvement in Denver’s backfield may have discouraged you from considering the addition of McLaughlin to your roster.

However, McLaughlin’s adjacency to Harvey on Denver’s depth chart has positioned McLaughlin to secure an expanded workload if Harvey is forced to the sideline. That scenario could develop in Week 16, after Harvey sustained a rib injury during the Broncos’ Week 15 matchup with Green Bay.

McLaughlin had attained a 15.1% snap share from Weeks 11-14, while averaging 5.3 attempts/21.7 rushing yards per game. He also registered a 13.9% snap share in Week 15, while accumulating two carries and four rushing yards. While those numbers have prevented McLaughlin from reaching standalone value, it is his potential to operate with a significant workload during any absence by Harvey that elevates him among this week’s waiver wire options.

Updates regarding Harvey’s health should be monitored, but McLaughlin is now primed to function as the Broncos’ primary back during their next two matchups if Harvey is unavailable. Denver will host Jacksonville in Week 16, before traveling to Kansas City in Week 17.

Audric Estime / Evan Hull, New Orleans Saints - (Estime -0% Rostered), (Hull - 0% Rostered)

Devin Neal operated as the Saints’ RB1 from Weeks 12-14, in the aftermath of injuries (knee/ankle) that sidelined Alvin Kamara during those contests.

Neal secured a 75.7% snap share while remaining entrenched atop a restructured depth chart that also contained Estime and Hull. That positioned Neal to retain temporary lead back duties during Kamara’s continued absence. However, Neal sustained a hamstring injury when New Orleans hosted Carolina in Week 15.

That elevated Estime and Hull into a rotation during the contest. Estime secured a 38.1% snap share, accumulated three attempts, and assembled 11 rushing yards. He also ran 15 routes, collected all three of his targets, and produced 39 yards as a receiver.

Hull operated with a 30.1% snap share, carried four times, and generated 12 rushing yards. He also ran eight routes, but was not targeted by Tyler Shough.

The timeline for Kamara‘s return remains uncertain, and Neal's status for Week 16 is equally unclear. Estime and Hull can both be utilized as low-end flex options in deeper leagues if Kamara and Neal are unavailable for the Saints' upcoming matchups against the Jets and Titans.

Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens - 3% Rostered

Mitchell made his season debut in Week 5 and registered a 7.1% snap share from Weeks 5-8. However, he has attained an 18.4% snap share since Week 9 while operating as the backup rusher to Derrick Henry in Baltimore’s backfield rotation.

The explosive Mitchell is easily second on the Ravens in attempts (36/4.5 per game) and rushing yards (287/35.9 per game), since Week 8, while averaging 8.0 yards per attempt. He has also produced four runs of 20+ yards, including a 56-yard burst that he delivered in Week 14.

56-YARD RUN BY @_KeatonMitchell!!!!

Tune in on CBS! pic.twitter.com/M1Tlf4ZMi2

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 7, 2025

Mitchell also sustained a knee injury in Week 14, but he reemerged for Baltimore’s matchup with AFC North rival Cincinnati in Week 15. Mitchell secured a 40% snap share, accumulated eight carries, and assembled 66 rushing yards during the contest, while averaging 8.3 yards per attempt.

Mitchell is capable of delivering a statistical eruption if he is operating as Baltimore’s temporary RB1. That would make him a critical resource in your lineup if Henry is sidelined when the Ravens face the Patriots and Packers in Weeks 16-17.

Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns - 12% Rostered

Sampson has reemerged as a recommended roster addition in this column, based on his potential to thrive in Cleveland’s backfield rotation if he recovers from the injuries (calf/hand) that sidelined him in Week 15.

The Browns’ placement of Jerome Ford on injured reserve (shoulder) has created an unobstructed runway for Sampson to function as Cleveland's RB2 behind Quinshon Judkins. It also positions Sampson to secure an extensive workload if Judkins is sidelined during the Browns’ remaining matchups.

This scenario developed in Week 12, when Judkins encountered a head/neck injury. Sampson attained a 37.3% snap share and capitalized by accumulating nine touches, 82 total yards, and generating his second receiving touchdown of the season.

got those wheels goin' for the score!#CLEvsLV on CBS and NFL+ pic.twitter.com/k1UFLthw35

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 23, 2025

Sampson also operated with a 31.1% snap share from Weeks 12-14, while his proficiency as a receiving weapon propelled him to the second-highest yardage total among all backs (123/41 per game).

Sampson’s status should be monitored, but he remains an enticing option to pursue on this week’s waiver wire. He could operate as an RB2/RB3 if he resurfaces when Cleveland hosts Buffalo in Week 16.

Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals - 4% Rostered

Perine has advanced through his ninth season as the clear RB2 in Cincinnati’s backfield rotation. He has now operated with a 34.3% snap share since Week 1. Perine also secured a 42.9% snap share and assembled 168 rushing yards (42.0 per game) from Weeks 5-8. He sustained an ankle injury after just one snap in Week 9 and remained sidelined until Week 13.

However, Perine has attained a 40.1% snap share since he reemerged from a two-game absence in Week 13. He has also carried 34 times (11.3 per game) and generated 112 rushing yards (37.3 per game) during his last three matchups.

That includes Perine’s numbers in Week 15 when he secured a 45.1% snap share, accumulated 14 attempts, and generated 42 rushing yards. He also ran 14 routes and collected his only target.

However, he injured his ankle during the contest and should be monitored. Perine will be stationed directly below Chase Brown on Cincinnati’s depth chart if he is not impacted by the injury. That would position him to operate as the Bengals’ temporary RB1 if Brown misses time during the final weeks.

Perine would also emerge as an RB2/RB3 if that situation occurs during Cincinnati’s upcoming matchups with Miami and Arizona in Weeks 16-17.

Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons - 39% Rostered

Bhayshul Tuten sustained a finger injury during Jacksonville‘s Week 15 matchup with the Jets, which will result in a multiple-game absence for the dynamic rookie. That will elevate Allen into RB2 duties within the Jaguars' backfield rotation, while Tuten remains unavailable.

Allen’s 22.6% snap share since Week 1 places him second among members of the Jaguars backfield, behind Travis Etienne (58.8%). Tuten had registered a 21.0% share from Weeks 1-15.

Allen has also accumulated 18 attempts (1.3 per game) and 81 rushing yards (5.8 per game). He is also second behind Etienne in routes run (123), while capturing 10 of his 11 targets and producing 54 yards (3.9 per game) as a pass-catcher.

Etienne will seize the vast majority of touches that are distributed by Liam Coen, while Allen functions as Etienne’s direct backup. However, Allen has now emerged as a back to target from this week’s waiver wire, as he would elevate vault into a sizable workload if Etienne is forced to the sideline during Jacksonville’s upcoming matchups.

The Jaguars will visit Denver in Week 16 before returning home for a matchup with Indianapolis in Week 17.